It’s been a tradition at Marion High School for six years: seniors paint their parking stalls, adding a little bit of local color while casually expressing themselves.
But now the tradition at this Kansas school is coming to an abrupt end, following three months of controversy after senior Logan Waner decided to paint his parking space over with a rainbow flag.
Kansas City reports the school board voted 4-3 to immediately end the tradition following upset over Waner’s rainbow flag.
One local, Chuck Seifert of Marion, was particularly disgruntled. He attended a school board meeting to voice his displeasure to superintendent Aaron Homburg.
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Waner posted a message to Facebook insinuating principal Tod Gordon asked him to change the design. Gordon denies this, saying there aren’t specific guidelines for the painting project, and assuring that he approved Waner’s design beforehand.
The next day, somebody vandalized Waner’s spot by pouring black latex asphalt sealer over the rainbow flag.
“I knew there would be someone who would complain,” Waner tells Kansas City.
“It’s just human instinct. But I didn’t think all the controversy over one man’s complaint was necessary. It did prove a point though. I mostly chose to paint the flag because it’s simple enough and I’m a horrible artist. It described me well enough, so it just felt right.”
Meanwhile, other parking spaces feature Bible verses, and a large American flag emblazoned with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
“In my opinion, more power to them,” Waner says.
“If it’s how they choose to express themselves, then so be it. For someone to complain over someone else’s views is pure arrogance.”
At a school board meeting, Seifert said the flag constituted “graffiti on public property” and parked over the flag to conceal it.
A protest about the flag in November wound up luring far more counter-protestors than protestors.
Waner attended, kissing his male friend in front of the protestors, other students, and the now-notorious parking spot.
He says nobody is pleased with the school board’s decision and they want the tradition to continue.
“I’ve heard a few people talking about it,” he says, “and they’re not too happy with the decision. But I haven’t been blamed for the decision. I think all the blame is going toward the school board.”
Sam6969
There are so many humanly impaired people in this country…
GC1985
All that for a rainbow flag? Then again this is Sam Brownbacks bankrupted state. They don’t have enough money to pay teachers… But good heavens… A rainbow flag in a parking spot is an absolute outrage. Ugh.
Don’t they have bigger issues? Like dealing with their completely broke state and stop voting Republican?
Mandrake
Those of us who live on the east or west coasts need reminders every so often that there’s still a socially backward part of America. It’s called the Bible Belt.
DCguy
So in Kansas they don’t mind that Republican bigots bankrupted their state as long as they can scream about some kid with a rainbow on his parking place.
GC1985
Their state can’t even pay state police or for basic street services and that is impacting cities too. Suddenly cities don’t get enough money from the state. All for trickle down pee down tax cuts Republicans are now trying to force nationally, when 70% of Americans think it’s all BS.
But hey a rainbow flag is far worse. Lmao.
GayEGO
They don’t realize that our flag is based on Dorothy who was “Somewhere over the rainbow.” :>)
Jaxton
But I thought Dorothy was from Kansas….
GayEGO
Dorothy was from Kansas but she left and went to California, a more liberal, accepting state. My comments to the Kansas bigots are – “Listen Mary Doogan, stop being such a dishy queen!”. :>)
dugalicous
Looks like Doris Day parking!
PinkoOfTheGange
From above :
“…and a large American flag emblazoned with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. ”
Painting the US flag on the ground, accurately, is a federal crime.
mhoffman953
@PinkoOfTheGange
I assume you’re talking about the U.S. Flag Code which also says that all men and women, not in military uniform, must stand for the national anthem.
But the Flag Code doesn’t apply to the situation you named.
Heywood Jablowme
@mhaffman953: Where does the U.S. Flag Code say anything about the anthem? (It does give advice about the pledge of allegiance. And I do mean “advice”: it has no enforcement penalty.)
It does, however, say this:
4 U.S. Code § 8 – Respect for flag
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
Looks like Pinko is correct and the Trumpkin classmate is violating the U.S. Flag Code!
mhoffman953
@HeywoodJablowme
“Where does the U.S. Flag Code say anything about the anthem?”
In section §171: http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#171
“During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart”
GC1985
Hoffman, you are as clueless as it gets.
GayEGO
How about Trump holding the flag upside down with the flag on fire?
Lookyloo
@mhoffman953 – Please note: In your first comment about the Flag Code you said: — all men and women, not in military uniform, MUST stand for the national anthem —
Then you posted more accurate wording from the Flag Code which says:
— During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform SHOULD stand —
Yet you don’t mention the huge difference there – and I do assume you know there is a difference between “must” and “should” —
Because, unlike fascism or dictatorships, people in America are FREE to do what they choose when in the presence of the national flag.
Kieran
I’ve always dreamed of one day living in Kansas. Not.
GC1985
Why not? It is your Republican paradise and they love Donny.
Making America Garbage Again.
GayEGO
But of course this is Kansas, where Dorothy was “Somewhere over the Rainbow”, and ended up in California. Most people I have met from Kansas have left the state due to the state’s ignorant people.